I’ve been following Toowoomba Grammar School’s exciting Artist-in-residence program for several years.
After seeing fellow Toowoomba artists such as Catherine Parker, Alice Weinthal and Vincent Parisi taking up the opportunity and engaging in the program, I decided to apply in 2022 to continue the momentum of my own artist practice.
With the four-week residency wrapping up at the end of October, and some time to reflect on the experience I can write that the experience was a valuable one.
During the residency I was able to set up a multi-faceted studio space in the Henderson Gallery. As students did their own learning in the adjacent Visual Arts and Drama spaces, I was able to do my own artist learning, experimenting, and testing.
While working primarily in video, I was able to explore some ideas I had with painting as well as finish some existing projects, including ‘Has Joined The Room’ which is now on show as part of Outer Space Gallery’s Supercut online exhibition.
Redwood Call I (2022)
One highlight of the residency was exploring ways of getting an audience (here, the students) to question their perception of reality. To do this, I projected a digital, video version of a window onto a white blind which covered the actual window. Each week, I would make subtle changes to the video. If you stayed long enough you would see cadets parading across the oval, ghostly parachutists descending from the sky or the window wobbling and waving out of its frame. Through these experiments, I was able to move through a process of considering the audience and fine-tune how I would explain artistic concepts in a general way, as well as testing what worked and what didn’t under a tight timeline. Furthermore, students were able to ask me questions, interrogate my ideas, participate in artmaking, and be themselves around the art – something that rarely happens in a public gallery, theatre or performance space.
Over the duration of the residency, I was able to see students in their own classrooms develop works of art from concept to the final form. By doing this, it confirmed the value of the Arts as a crucial element in a student’s learning. What other learning experience allows you to develop an idea, problem-solve, work through the challenges of the medium (eg paint, wire, video) while practicing individual self-expression, mindfulness and reflection? The Arts matter!
The final video work I created during the residency titled ‘Endurance Sport’ riffs on this idea. Artists, whether they practice professionally or as hobbyists, are like endurance athletes. This takes training, time and focused attention. In my four weeks as Artist-in-residence I was privileged to be granted all three.
You can view the Final Video here:
Latest Blog
Tik Tok - From Fun to Fear
Social media platforms have ingrained themselves into our daily lives in a time when technology is constantly evolving and drawing millions of users with seductive features and never-ending streams of captivating content. Among these, TikTok has become a worldwide phenomenon, captivating users with its viral challenges and short-form films. Underneath the fun and inventiveness however, there is growing concern about the risks connected to TikTok and other social media platforms. TikTok's…
Active Procrastination – Unlocking the Gates of Time
“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” - Christopher Parker – professional actor. Unfortunately, procrastination is a term that we are all familiar with as students; the vast majority of us have experienced it firsthand. It saps our time and results like a parasite, a burden on its host. However, despite it’s reputation, recent studies have shown that when harnessed correctly, procrastination can be a powerful tool to improve both academic efficiency…
It Takes a Village...
The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’. Our TGS…
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success
Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are the bedrock of reading. Encourage rich conversations with your child.…
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
